Ursula Leyen joins call for rich to donate vaccines to poor

In a webcast with the World Health Organization (WHO) she said vaccines must reach all corners of the planet as soon as possible.

The European Union has contributed an additional 500 million euros ($606.3 million) to the WHO-backed COVAX programme to supply COVID-19 shots to emerging economies, doubling the bloc's contribution, the European Commission said last Friday.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who also chairs the African Union, urged rich countries to donate five percent of their vaccine supplies to needy countries, particularly on the African continent.
Global Citizen, which hosted a "One World at Home" benefit concert last April, launched a campaign to support equitable distribution of vaccines and kickstart a global recovery. Leading artists are to take part in a broadcast special in May.

Billie Eilish, a Grammy-winning American singer-songwriter, said she was three shows into a world tour a year ago but because of the pandemic had to cancel the rest to ensure the safety of her fans and crew.

But the 19-year-old said if everyone could come together to take action to get everybody access to the vaccines.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reminded that half of the 210 million doses that have been administered so far in the world, have been in only two countries.